What is Identity Safety?

Identity safety (also known as online safety or cyber-safety) can broadly be defined as the practices and precautions taken while using the Internet, so as to ensure that you and your personal information is protected. According to the FTC, an estimated 9 million people have their identities stolen each year. This is a relatively new concept that is increasing rapidly with advances in technology. The Internet, which allows us to easily exchange information at rapid rates, is a significant factor in determining why identity crime has become a growing global issue.

Your personal information includes:

Social Security Number

Phone Number

License Number

Address

Credit Card/Bank Pin

Where You Work

Birth Date

Identity Theft (the legal issues)

Identity theft, identity fraud, impersonation...each of these terms involve the act of using another person's personal information, without their permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. The victim of identity theft can suffer detrimental consequences if they are held accountable for the perpetrator's actions.

Types of identity theft may include:Financial Identity TheftA criminal can use the victim's name and Social Security Number (SSN) to establish new lines of credit.

Criminal Identity TheftThe criminal can "borrow" a minor's personal information in order to obtain a driver's license or give to authorities if caught for in a criminal act.

Identity Assumption Identity thieves use an identity for financial, criminal, and governmental purposes.

Medical TheftUsing another's identity to obtain medical care or drugs

Child Identity TheftWhen a child’s identity is used by another person for the imposter’s personal gain. The perpetrator may be a family member or someone known by the family. It could also be a stranger who purposely targets children because of the lengthy time between the theft of the information and the discovery of the crime. According to The World Privacy Forum, "identity theft may be used to facilitate or fund other crimes including illegal immigration, terrorism, phishing, and espionage. There are cases of identity cloning to attack payment systems, including online credit card processing and medical insurance."

Common Misconceptions

Did you know that credit issuers do not have a way to verify the age of an applicant? The information that an individual provides is typically what creditors will use when they process the application. This is often true with cases involving telephone and Internet applications. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, "In person, few credit issuers request proof of identity, a driver’s license for instance. Even then, many clerks have not been trained on how to recognize counterfeited or altered licenses." Due to this flaw in our system, many cases of identity theft go unnoticed or remain undetected for long periods of time. A second misconception is that the credit reporting agencies (CRAs) are aware that fraudulent applicants are using the personal information of a minor. Unfortunately, there is little to no sharing of information about the age of a person between the CRAs and the Social Security. Administration.

Here is an example:If the first application indicates that the applicant is 24, the credit agencies believe that person is 24 until a dispute is filed and proven.

Tips for Students

Only use the internet when you have your parent's permission.

Don't chat or plan to meet with strangers online. Take the same precautions as you would in your daily life.

Make sure you set your setting to private when using social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter.

If you are instant messaging, entering chat rooms, or using social networks do not allow others to "cyber-bully" or harass you. Do not respond to violent or threatening messages. Instead, immediately notify a parent, teacher, or adult.

Tips for Parents

Communicate with your children about their experiences online. Allow open communication and go over your house Internet rules with them. These rules may include which social networking sites they are allowed to use and how they are allowed to use them.

Make sure your kids abide my the age limits set on certain sites.

Prohibit your children from meeting anyone in person that they met online. This may be difficult to convey to your child, because they might not consider someone they met online to be a "stranger". Give examples of how the person on the other end of communication could be someone completely different than who they said they were. Explain to them why this can be extremely dangerous.

Teach your children about cyber bullying.

Tips for Educators

Inform your students on how to be safe while using the Internet like not giving out their school mascot, home town, or birth date over the Internet.

Educate your kids about the Internet and how once you release personal information into cyber space you may never be able to reverse that act.

Explain that once personal information gets into the hands of the wrong person like strangers or even criminals, it can make them vulnerable to cyber-bullying, Internet predators, Internet fraud, or identity theft.

Warn your children about expressing their emotions to strangers. Explain to them that predators often seek out children who are emotionally vulnerable.